OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without acute renal failure (ARF) admitted to the general intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated hospital. METHOD: Prospective observational study comprising 263 patients followed up daily during their stay at the general ICU of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Medical School of Botucatu, from July 2007 to April 2008. RESULTS: The incidence of ARF was 31.2%. The groups were similar regarding gender and differed regarding the following: cause of ICU admission (sepsis: 31.7% x 13.1%, p < 0.0001, post-operative period: 11% x 43%; p < 0.0001); age (59.6 ± 18.1 x 50.2 ± 18.6 years; p < 0.0001); APACHE II: (21 ± 11.1 x 11 ± 4.8; p = 0.002); oliguria (67.7% x 4.5%; p < 0.0001); presence of mechanical ventilation (81.7% x 57.7%; p = 0.0014); use of vasoactive drugs (62.2% x 32.6%; p < 0.0001); and site of origin inside hospital (emergency room: 22% x 14.5%; p = 0.02; operating room: 42.7% x 62.6%; p = 0.03). As for comorbidities, hypertension and chronic renal disease were more frequent among patients with ARF than among those without ARF (42.6% x 35.9%; p = 0.005 and 15.8% x 2.1%; p = 0.04, respectively), but the groups did not differ regarding diabetes and congestive heart failure (19.5% x 11%, and 6% x 1.1%, respectively). Mortality was higher in ARF patients (62.1% x 16.5%; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The incidence of ARF is high in the ICU and among patients with worse clinical parameters and prognosis, justifying the greater mortality observed in such patients.
acute renal failure; incidence; intensive care unit; mortality; dialysis
